Ye Fan’s heart jolted. The other party had not made contact with his Bitter Sea — so how had he seen through his physique?

“The Ancient Holy Physique is truly extraordinary — a golden Bitter Sea interwoven with thunder and lightning. I have never heard of such a thing, never seen anything like it.” Li Ruoyu spoke calmly and serenely.

Yet hearing these words, Ye Fan felt as though the sky had cracked open, as though a stone had shattered the heavens. He felt a growing unease, not knowing what other secrets the elder had discovered. The green copper block must never be exposed to the light of the world; the Primal Qi of All Things and the golden scripture, the Scripture of the Dao, were likewise extraordinary and must not be revealed to this age.

“There is no need to be nervous. I have no ill intentions.” As though he had perceived the turmoil in Ye Fan’s heart, a trace of warm, kindly smile appeared on Li Ruoyu’s wrinkled face.

Ye Fan felt the other party was unfathomable. Now that he had received Zhuo Peak’s true transmission, he was even more difficult to fathom than before. Ye Fan asked openly, “Senior, how did you… perceive this?”

“Just now, both you and I were unified with Zhuo Peak. As the great Dao flowed and turned, it was only natural to sense it.” Li Ruoyu smiled gently.

The Ancient Holy Physique was extraordinary and exceptional. If one deliberately concealed it, the Bitter Sea would be still and silent — nearly impossible to see through. Not long ago, Zhuo Peak’s transmission had opened, and the great Dao of nature had flowed and turned. Both of them were immersed within it. Ye Fan guessed this was probably indeed what had happened — his entire body’s vital energy had been released outward, and it had been sensed by the other party.

“I ask that Senior keep this secret for me.” Ye Fan did not know what kind of attitude this elder would take toward him. While their interactions had been harmonious up until now, they had spent very little time together and he had not truly come to understand the man.

“You may rest completely at ease.”

In truth, at this point, even if the Ancient Holy Physique were discovered, it was not of great consequence. In the present age, what people cared about was the Eastern Wastelands Divine Physique. However, if it were known that Ye Fan could cultivate without any obstruction whatsoever, that would be an entirely different matter.

“It is no small achievement — to cultivate the Ancient Holy Physique all the way to the Divine Bridge realm. That is truly no easy feat.” Li Ruoyu nodded.

Ye Fan’s heart stirred with lingering unease, for this was precisely the root of his concern. To possess the Ancient Holy Physique and yet cultivate so smoothly — if it became known, people would certainly begin to investigate. He felt this old man had seen through even more than he had revealed, and now, like Zhuo Peak itself, the elder appeared ordinary on the surface, yet was unfathomably deep beneath.

“Try your utmost not to let the sacred grounds or the ancient wilderness families find out.” Li Ruoyu offered these words.

“They…” Upon hearing this, a chill settled into Ye Fan’s heart. The sacred grounds and the ancient wilderness families — their lineages stretched back to the ancient era itself. They certainly understood many secrets.

“There is no need to worry excessively. Time flows ever onward, and the Holy Physique has fallen into ruin. The great powers that have inherited their traditions since the ancient era no longer pay it much attention. The world has forgotten about this physique.”

Once upon a time, the Ancient Holy Physique had been the most glorious beneath the ancient heavens, shining across all ages. Now, even if someone were to know of it, they would understand that the Holy Physique could no longer cultivate as it once had.

“Does Senior know what the reason is — why the Holy Physique is no longer suited for cultivation?” Ye Fan asked.

“Why it is so — the time is far too remote, and it is difficult for anyone to know clearly.” Li Ruoyu looked toward Ye Fan and said, “The Ancient Holy Physique does not necessarily mean it will obstruct your progress. Everything in this world has its destined affinity.”

Ye Fan heard this and nodded. In truth, his cultivation had not been obstructed in the slightest — ever since he first stepped onto the immortal path, everything had proceeded with continuous smoothness.

“So long as you firmly believe you can cultivate, nothing can stand in your way.” Li Ruoyu sighed and said, “My own physique is very ordinary and plain — yet I persisted without wavering, and in the end I have achieved something. “

“Congratulations to Senior on receiving Zhuo Peak’s transmission and greatly advancing in cultivation.” Ye Fan stepped forward to offer his congratulations.

“Cultivation requires that one keep both feet planted firmly on the ground. One does not progress simply by obtaining a powerful transmission. Even the most profound and abstruse secret arts must be comprehended by the person themselves.” Li Ruoyu spoke as though offering guidance to Ye Fan. “In my early years, I was lost and confused, squandering time, and spent more than several decades cultivating here in a daze before I finally awoke — only then did I truly grasp the profound truth of Zhuo Peak.”

According to what the elder said, only in the last hundred years had his heart settled into stillness, gradually unifying with Zhuo Peak, perceiving the state of mind of the ancient sages, and comprehending the Dao of Zhuo Peak.

Even before receiving the transmission, aside from the supreme secret art itself, he had already felt and understood the various profound truths left behind by his predecessors, merging and aligning with Zhuo Peak, and perceiving the great Dao of nature.

Ye Fan listened, and his heart was filled with awe. This old man was truly remarkable and extraordinary — his natural constitution was not fine, one could even say it was quite poor. Yet here he had comprehended the Dao, perceived nature, and grasped the supreme profound truth.

Today, after the transmission opened, Li Ruoyu had done nothing more than verify the so-called profound truths he had already understood. He was truly no ordinary person — he possessed great wisdom in the art of cultivation.

“Natural constitution is not the problem, and a divine physique does not necessarily make one invincible throughout all the heavens.” Li Ruoyu said this to Ye Fan — as though encouraging him.

“Your physique is special. The world regards it as a ruined constitution. Yet I believe that within the ordinary lies the extraordinary — perhaps you can cultivate it into the complete Holy Physique.” Li Ruoyu gazed steadily at him and asked, “Are you willing to sincerely join Zhuo Peak?”

Ye Fan’s heart stirred. The elder’s words were carefully considered. He hesitated for a moment and did not answer immediately.

“I understand your intentions…” Li Ruoyu sighed softly.

“Senior, I am willing to join Zhuo Peak.”

“There is no need for that.” Li Ruoyu nodded, then shook his head, and said, “For now, consider yourself an ordinary disciple of Zhuo Peak. My Dao does not necessarily suit you — you may leave whenever you wish.”

Ye Fan was startled in his heart. He felt the old man had certainly seen through even more, and things were far from as simple as what he had just said.

“Senior, in truth — just now, I have already received part of Zhuo Peak’s transmission.” Ye Fan spoke these words plainly. He felt this old man was too extraordinary to be anything but — it was better to speak directly.

“I already knew.” Li Ruoyu nodded and said, “You have obtained the secret art. You may cultivate it — but you must never transmit it to another.”

Ye Fan felt more and more strongly that the old man was unlike anyone ordinary. After being verified by Zhuo Peak’s transmission, he had truly returned to primal simplicity.

“You and I are both disciples of Zhuo Peak — follow me down the mountain to select apprentices.” Li Ruoyu did not fly. He walked down the mountain step by step, and Ye Fan followed behind him.

Before the mountain gate, a great many people had gathered — even some elders were waiting there, and none had intruded up the mountain without permission.

The dozen or so Star Peak disciples that Ye Fan had detained atop the mountain earlier — at this moment, one could only wonder how they felt inside. They had once looked upon Zhuo Peak with utter contempt. Now, watching outstanding disciples from every main peak gather here, a hundred different feelings surged within their hearts.

Ye Fan walked over and released the restrictions he had placed upon them, allowing them to descend the mountain. Yet at this moment, the dozen or so of them dawdled and lingered — they were unwilling to simply leave just like that.

The Profound Mystery Sect had its rules: joining another main peak still offered one the chance to choose a different transmission. But once one joined Zhuo Peak, that choice could never be changed — it had been so since ancient times. This, in a way, spoke to Zhuo Peak’s unusual and distinctive nature.

Li Ruoyu arrived at the mountain gate and swept his gaze across the crowd. “Do you all wish to join my Zhuo Peak?” he asked.

“We do!” many people answered in loud and direct voices.

At this moment, Li Ruoyu possessed no air of transcendence, no ethereal bearing. He looked simply like an ordinary elderly man from a rural village — which made many of the disciples feel a flicker of doubt.

Several elders from other main peaks stepped forward and paid their respects to Li Ruoyu — every one of them was exceedingly courteous. These senior cultivators of the older generation, with eyes sharp as lightning, could not see through Li Ruoyu — and naturally understood that his cultivation realm was unfathomably profound. In the eyes of everyone present, Zhuo Peak’s rise had become a foregone conclusion.

“We have come to send our disciples over. Our Peak Masters gave their orders, so we had no choice but to part with those we treasured.” Some elders wore expressions that betrayed their reluctance and displeasure.

“There is truly no need to be so.” Li Ruoyu, without the air of an enlightened sage, said, “Everyone has their own different Dao. The Dao of Zhuo Peak does not necessarily suit them.”

“The Sect Master also said — this is merely a selection of disciples. All must be of their own free will.” Another elder, quite elderly in years, nodded in agreement.

“We sincerely wish to join Zhuo Peak!” Many disciples were sharp and quick-witted, crying out loudly and stepping forward to kneel in reverence.

Ye Fan felt at a loss for words. Before this day, Zhuo Peak had been so desolate that even guests seldom came to its door. After the transmission opened, so many people came surging in. He could not help but sigh — the world of cultivation was just as pragmatic as the mundane world, no better in that regard by much.

Ji Ziyue was in low spirits. Elder Li Ruoyu had previously asked her directly whether she was a member of the Ji Family. She had no way to deny it, and the elder had been equally candid — straightforwardly telling her that he could not teach her the supreme secret art.

“You little brat, did you truly not learn that secret art? I don’t believe it!” Ji Ziyue gave Ye Fan a sideways glance from her large, bright eyes. Her smile was sweet — captivating and enchanting to the soul. “That day, when Zhuo Peak’s transmission opened, you were on this mountain. You had to have received some destined opportunity. Are you telling me you gained nothing at all?”

“I did. I learned something of the natural Dao.” Ye Fan laughed with a grin and said, “You can trade the Void Ancient Scripture for it.”

“You deserve a beating!” Ji Ziyue wrinkled her delicate nose and began grinding her teeth. She was reminded of the time Ye Fan had captured her as his prisoner.

“Fine, fine — I’ll just teach you directly.” Ye Fan began expounding at length on the natural Dao, deliberately steering the conversation elsewhere. As for the secret art — he dared not teach it, for Li Ruoyu had once solemnly warned him of this.

After being identified, Ji Ziyue washed away the colorful paint from her face, transforming from a little painted cat into a sweet and lively young girl of breathtaking, unparalleled beauty.

The Profound Mystery Sect had learned of her identity, and would naturally work to protect her with all its power, ensuring no mishap befell her on their grounds. She had no fear of Ji Biyue coming to this place to kill her.

Before long, more than thirty disciples had been added to Zhuo Peak — all sent up personally by various elders, whom Li Ruoyu could not politely refuse.

Ji Ziyue was quite displeased. Among those disciples, a number of them swarmed around her, following close at her heels, which she found utterly tiresome. She understood clearly — her identity had been leaked, and these people were trying to get close to her in hopes of building connections with an ancient wilderness family.

As for Ye Fan, he hid from her every single day, studying and contemplating the Scripture of the Dao while researching the newly obtained supreme secret art. Ji Ziyue was annoyed and frustrated, feeling that this fellow was far too unusual — actually avoiding her like this. She found him even more infuriating than those who followed her around everywhere.

“You little brat, you actually dare to hide from me…” Ji Ziyue gnashed her small tiger teeth in warning, her large eyes brimming with mischievous intent, preparing to use Ye Fan as her shield against all the others.

Ye Fan understood this naturally, and so stayed out of sight all day long — he had absolutely no desire to earn the resentment and hostility of the other disciples. Now, he had already begun to think about leaving. In recent days, he had been searching for the “domain gate” of the Profound Mystery Sect, hoping to use it to traverse the void across long distances.

Once more, Ye Fan wandered far from Zhuo Peak, spending more than half a day roaming through the Profound Mystery Sect, passing by many main peaks — yet he found no trace of what was called a domain gate, and had no idea where it might be located.

He did learn, however, from some disciples he happened to speak with: if one made a great contribution to the sect, or if one could provide sufficient quantities of “source stones” oneself, then one could make use of the domain gate to traverse the void — and the sect could offer such facilitation.

On his way back to Zhuo Peak, Ye Fan was spotted by Ji Ziyue, who blocked his path.

“You little brat, you’ve been appearing and disappearing these past few days — are you trying to escape?” Ji Ziyue was sharp and perceptive, immediately sensing something was off. She said, “Could it be that you’ve obtained the supreme secret art and have been hiding it from me all along? Why else would such thoughts occur to you?”

“Nothing of the sort!” Ye Fan hastily denied it.

“If you dare to run away, I’ll tell everyone all your secrets — things like the Demon Emperor’s Sacred Heart, the Primal Qi of All Things, the mysterious green copper block…” Ji Ziyue’s smile was impossibly sweet, her large eyes curving into crescent moons, her small dimples showing — the picture of mischievous liveliness.

“Stop!” Ye Fan hurried to cut her off before she could say any more. If someone happened to overhear, his situation would become dire.

“Let’s go somewhere else and walk around.” Ji Ziyue was thoroughly bored, having been pestered endlessly by the young disciples on Zhuo Peak — she had fled down the mountain to escape them.

“All right, let’s take a stroll.” Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue set off toward “Cong Peak” ahead of them, winding through one beautiful mountain after another. Without realizing it, they arrived at the place where Star Peak stood.

At that moment, a familiar figure entered Ye Fan’s line of sight. Li Xiaoman, dressed in white robes that billowed softly, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, her features pure and beautiful, her figure graceful and elegant — she could only be described as immaculately clean, transcending the dust of the mundane world. She and several Star Peak disciples were walking in their direction from not far away, and the two groups encountered each other by chance.

Ye Fan and Li Xiaoman both naturally saw each other — neither had expected to meet here.

Beside him, Ji Ziyue immediately sensed something was unusual. She asked softly in Ye Fan’s ear, “Someone you know?”

“Yes.” Ye Fan nodded.

“Is she an enemy? Shall I deal with her for you?” Ji Ziyue laughed and looked ahead toward Li Xiaoman. She had been to Star Peak before, but with so many disciples and countless members there, she could not possibly have met them all.

“She is not an enemy. Don’t start anything.” Ye Fan quickly stopped her — he had no desire to stir up trouble.

Li Xiaoman was now a cultivator who had reached the Life Spring realm, and she could naturally hear the conversation on their side — the two groups were not far apart.

Ji Ziyue took Ye Fan’s hand and walked forward lightly, her smile sweet and radiant. “What should I call you, Elder Sister?”

The people on the other side all took notice of Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue — in particular, Ji Ziyue was so vivid and lively that she could be called absolutely beautiful, like a spirit come to life. It was impossible not to draw attention to herself.